Kasparov emphasize tactics development as foremost so he encourage KG and Dragon.
Least complex sicilian opening?
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Dec 23, 2018
0
#23
I have read a quote by Kasparov saying that he doesn't think anyone below grandmaster level should play the Sicilian. One of us must be misremembering the quote, unless he changed his mind...
Dec 23, 2018
0
#24
My source is 90s before the internet age. Perhaps both of us is right. He changed his mind 😉
May 7, 2021
0
#25
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
May 7, 2021
0
#27
Cannon-Fodder wrote:
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
if they're willing to play into the open sicilian they probably have some prep in it. playing an anti-sicilian sideline will yield good results as you'll likely be the only one prepared for it
May 7, 2021
0
#28
DaBabysSideTing написал:
Just play the Grand Prix attack
That's what I do. It works fine for me. I never get the romantic attack like vintage Nigel Short or Gawain Jones, but I get a decent position. I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to learn the basics of the open Sicilian with something like the Quickstart of an open Sicilian course on chessable or if I should just stick with my Grand Prix.
May 7, 2021
0
#29
Cannon-Fodder wrote:
DaBabysSideTing написал:
Just play the Grand Prix attack
That's what I do. It works fine for me. I never get the romantic attack like vintage Nigel Short or Gawain Jones, but I get a decent position. I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to learn the basics of the open Sicilian with something like the Quickstart of an open Sicilian course on chessable or it I should just stick with my Grand Prix.
I mean it might be worthwhile to study the open variation in case you get move ordered, but i would just stick to your sideline.
The dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 is heavy on theory with main lines beyond 20 moves. Maybe the accelerated dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 or the hyperaccelerated dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 g6
Cannon-Fodder a écrit :
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
Personnally I like to advocate Alapin for white. Simple and instructive (with IQP positions for example).
Play openings that make you happy...
Cannon-Fodder έγραψε:
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
I see the memorization of numerous lines of the open Sicilian as a waste of time. There are plenty of non-open lines which promise a rich middlegame, like the Alapin which was just mentioned by IM poucin.
This is the latest book on the opening. I would not call it "beginner-friendly", but this pretty much applies for all books authored by Khalifman.
https://www.newinchess.com/squeezing-the-sicilian
The Alapin 1 e4 c5 2 c3 was recommended by Sveshnikov on theoretical grounds. He argued that 2 Nf3 and 3 d4 trade a central pawn d4 for a wing pawn c5 and thus gives black a favorable endgame. White gets dynamic compensation because of his lead in development, but black has a long term strategice endgame advantage.
The delayed Alapin is interesting too. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 c3 Nf6 4 Be2. The point is that e4 is indirectly defended by Qa4+ and white can continue with O-O, d4 to seize the center.
2 Nc3 is good too.
You can also play the open Sicilian 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3, 3 d4, 4 Nxd4, 5 Nc3, but then I would recommend to steer away from the long theoretical lines and just develop 6 Be2, 7 O-O, further planning Be3, f4, Kh1 etc.
I would Recommend the Nimzowitsch Sicilian for a beginner.
Against the Sicilian there’s a book by Gawain Jones called how to beat the Sicilian. The book is based on the Moscow, rossolimo, and kings Indian attack. Personally I find the lines to be pretty interesting and calmer than the najdorf and sveshnikov, which I like. The lines are also in good theoretical shape and can get you pretty far (played by strong grandmasters, from what ive read so far)
May 8, 2021
0
#37
poucin написал:
Cannon-Fodder a écrit :
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
Personnally I like to advocate Alapin for white. Simple and instructive (with IQP positions for example).
Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it.
May 8, 2021
0
#38
pfren написал:
Cannon-Fodder έγραψε:
I am replying to this old discussion with a question for Pfren and Poucin if they are still following this thread. Pfren makes a really solid case for why class level players should not play the Sicilian. I am convinced. I will stick with ...e5.
However, since the Sicilian is played all the time by club players, how should an ordinary club player respond when they play 1 e4 and their opponent responds with ...c5, which is usually what happens at all levels of play? Is it better to save study time by learning an anti-Sicilian, or is it better to "call their bluff" and play an open Sicilian?
I see the memorization of numerous lines of the open Sicilian as a waste of time. There are plenty of non-open lines which promise a rich middlegame, like the Alapin which was just mentioned by IM poucin.
This is the latest book on the opening. I would not call it "beginner-friendly", but this pretty much applies for all books authored by Khalifman.
Thank you for the reply and the link.
May 8, 2021
0
#39
3141516 написал:
Against the Sicilian there’s a book by Gawain Jones called how to beat the Sicilian. The book is based on the Moscow, rossolimo, and kings Indian attack. Personally I find the lines to be pretty interesting and calmer than the najdorf and sveshnikov, which I like. The lines are also in good theoretical shape and can get you pretty far (played by strong grandmasters, from what ive read so far)
Thank you for the book recommendation.
May 8, 2021
0
#40
tygxc написал:
The Alapin 1 e4 c5 2 c3 was recommended by Sveshnikov on theoretical grounds. He argued that 2 Nf3 and 3 d4 trade a central pawn d4 for a wing pawn c5 and thus gives black a favorable endgame. White gets dynamic compensation because of his lead in development, but black has a long term strategice endgame advantage.
The delayed Alapin is interesting too. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 c3 Nf6 4 Be2. The point is that e4 is indirectly defended by Qa4+ and white can continue with O-O, d4 to seize the center.
2 Nc3 is good too.
You can also play the open Sicilian 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3, 3 d4, 4 Nxd4, 5 Nc3, but then I would recommend to steer away from the long theoretical lines and just develop 6 Be2, 7 O-O, further planning Be3, f4, Kh1 etc.
Thanks for this. If I were to start playing the open Sicilian, I would definitely go for the lines that aren't super sharp. But for now I think I'll keep playing anti-Sicilians.
I mentioned Sicilian beginners which is an Intermediate players. Beginners play e4 e5 almost exclusively